Three Local Nonprofits Work Together to Raise $4,170 for Relay for Life

This spring, the Portland Civic Players performed the play “Escanaba in Da Moonlight”, a Michigan based play written by actor, musician and playwright, Jeff Daniels. If you were lucky enough to come see this awesome cast, you saw lots of flannel, some ‘bro dates’, and had a lot of laughs. You may have also noticed something a little bit different. You would have seen members of the Ionia County Relay for life pulling usher duty and Friends of the Red Mill selling amazing pasties at intermission- provided by Vicki’s Bridge St. Pasties in Saranac. $5 of every show admission ticket was donated to the Relay for Life. When all was said and done, over 800 people had seen this incredible show and $4,170 had been donated to the Relay for Life organization. A check was presented to Relay for Life by the Portland Civic Players at the May 2 Relay meeting.

“This was something that turned from a passing discussion with one of the Relay folks, to something that brought together 3 community organizations. It brought new people into our theater, some who had never been there before, and helped raise money for two other fantastic community groups,” said Mary Teachout, Portland Civic Players board president. “We are looking forward to doing more collaborations with other great organizations in the future.”

“When community organizations come together to support each other, great things happen,” said Alyssa Sherman, 2018 Relay Event Lead. “We’re thrilled to have worked with the Portland Civic Players and Friends of the Red Mill on this collaborative fundraiser.”

The Portland Civic Players will also be providing some entertainment at the upcoming Relay for Life event in July. The theme for this year’s event is Disney, which is a great precursor to the Civic Players upcoming fall production of “Beauty and the Beast”. Stay tuned for further fundraisers and updates from these great community organizations!

In the picture from left to right: Ronda Goodman, Mary Teachout, Laurie Reeves, Tonya Mitchell, Ruth Ann Peake, and Alyssa Sherman.